The Catalan club said at the time of Neymar's move, the transfer figure was €57.1m, €40m of which was paid to Neymar's family. DIS then received a 40% share of the remaining €17.1m that was paid to Santos.

 

"Neymar's rights have not been sold to the highest bidder. There were clubs that offered up to €60m," DIS lawyer Paulo Nasser said in a news conference in Barcelona on Thursday.

 

In a statement, Baker McKenzie, the lawyers representing the Neymar family, claimed that Spanish courts "lack jurisdiction to prosecute the Neymar family and their company N&N" because the acts were committed by Brazilian nationals outside Spanish territory. It was also pointed out that the alleged crimes are not punishable in Brazil.

 

The statement also mentioned that Neymar and his family have been charged with "corruption between private individuals," which applies to "competition of products and services between companies," pointing out that Neymar himself "is not a service or a commodity".

 

The court in Barcelona where the trial will be held said that the Paris Saint-Germain player will have to appear in person on Monday for the first day, but it is unclear if he will be asked to stay for the whole hearing that could go on for two weeks.

 

Neymar and his parents, Rosell and Bartomeu, will start their testimony next Friday.